Opening nights and anniversary events

The Fifth Annual NYC Holiday House, chaired by founder Iris Dankner, a fifteen-year breast cancer survivor, and Christopher Hyland, held its Opening Night Gala on the evening of October 24th at the Academy Mansion on East 63rd Street. Leonard Lauder is the Honorary Chairman. This year’s Holiday themed Designer Show House benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, founded by Evelyn Lauder, the late style setter and philanthropist. Hyland believes, "Iris is a visionary, a tenacious New York treasure, committed to continuing Evelyn Lauder's legacy through Holiday House." Alexa Hampton and Charlotte Moss are serving as Design Chairmen.

Notable designers in attendance included Alexa Hampton, Geoffrey Bradfield, Mario Buatta, Ellie Cullman, Thom Filicia, Stephen Fanuka, Amy Lau, Charlotte Moss, Vicente Wolf andAnn Omvig Maine, Editor in Chief of Traditional Home magazine which sponsored the show and Kyle Marshall, Editor of HYLAND Magazine which sponsored the catalogue. The Holiday House will remain open to the public through November 18.

Both prominent designers and rising stars were on hand to unveil their exquisite rooms for the 2012 Showhouse. Highlights include: Geoffrey Bradfield, an elegant black and white Proust inspired salon; Charlotte Moss, a feminine bedroom for an adventurous young woman; Ally Coulter, playing on the theme of Father’s Day, a modern update of an old English gentlemen’s club; Tobi Fairley collaborated with Traditional Home on a sitting room for a fashionista; Inson Dubois Wood paid homage to Daphne Guinness and Hermes with a “Carnival” inspired dining room; Roger Thomas “decked the halls” with his dramatic new wallpaper for Maya Romanoff; Baccarat illuminates the house with stunning chandeliers.

The Opening Night Gala was the kickoff to an array of exciting events that make this showhouse like no other, upcoming events include: “Meet the Designers Hosted by The Monacelli Press,” celebrating the design industry’s biggest icons: Eric Cohler, Vicente Wolf, Geoffrey Bradfield, Campion Platt, Heiberg Cummings and more! November 1st, from 6pm – 8pm. Public admission $30.

Holiday House is open to the public from Thursday, October 25 - Sunday, November 18th. General admission price is $30.

For more information, please visit www.holidayhousenyc.com, call 212-472-3313 or follow on Facebook (Holiday House NYC) and Twitter (@HolidayHouseNYC).

Geoffrey Bradfield, Aslihan Sabanci, and Roric Tobin

Di Mondo and Eric Javits Jr

Barbara Tober and Donald Tober

Delah Brucelli and Helena Lehane

Deborah Krulewitch and Jane Hudis

Carol Wilkinson

Monique Van Vooren; Atmosphere

Maurice Dubois and Andrea Dubois

Sandra Long; Atmosphere

Al-Nasser, Greg Kan, and Roric Tobin

Sara Gore and Stephen Fanuka

Stephen Javaras and Meagan Kennally

Alexa Hampton and Christopher Hyland

Geoffrey Bradfield

Lisa Kanning and Laura Kirar

Leonard Lauren

Eleanora Kennedy and Lee W. Robinson

Peg Mastrianni

Thom Filicia and Laura Beck

Chiu-Ti Jansen

Charlotte Moss, Kamie Lightburn, and Webb Egerton

Dakota Jackson and Ally Coulter

Last Tuesday night over in the Waldorf-Astoria, they held the 29th annual Alzheimer’s Association’s New York Rita Hayworth Gala.

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan began this event in honor of her mother, actress Rita Hayworth, who died as a result of Alzheimer's. Under Princess Yasmin Aga Khan's leadership, over $57 million has been raised through the Rita Hayworth Galas. These funds, combined with other donations, have helped the Alzheimer's Association make significant progress toward its mission to eliminate Alzheimer's disease.

This year's Corporate Award went to David Cordani, President and CEO of Cigna. Champion Awards went to James Keach, Jane Seymour and Trevor Albert, PCH Films.

Held annually in October and attracting more than 700 guests, the New York Rita Hayworth Gala celebrates and honors individuals who are dedicated to fighting Alzheimer's disease through their fundraising, care and volunteer efforts. The evening includes a cocktail reception, three-course dinner, program, auctions, live music, entertainment and dancing.

This past Tuesday night, October 23rd, the New York Women’s Foundation held its 25th Anniversary gala honoring Soledad O’Brien and Brad Raymond, and Ginny and Sean Day. The theme of this important anniversary was “Improving the Lives of Women and Families In New York.”

Following the four honorees, Sarah Jones, Tony Award® Winning Playwright and Performer was then introduced by Connie Chung. Ms. Jones brought a coat rack with her onstage, putting different items on and portraying different ethnicities, ages and types of women, all speaking about The New York Women’s Foundation®. While portraying a Jewish grandmother, quick-talking Latina woman, Chinese immigrant, Indian woman and young feminist, Ms. Jones covered many topics affecting women including diversity, education, and investing in the future and cited the “importance of The NYWF on the history of New York City.”

Over the past quarter century, the NYWF has invested $33 million in funding to more than 280 women-led, nonprofit organizations, improving the lives of 5.4 million women and girls in New York City. 81% of those nonprofits have succeeded and are still thriving today. In 2009, the NYWF responded to the economic crisis by launching RISE-NYC!, a 5-year partnership initiative that increased its grant-making by more than 20% in focused areas including economic security, anti-violence and safety, and health and reproductive rights.

Shoppers and supporters had the exciting, fun-filled opportunity to get a little exercise and make a contribution by registering and donating $25,000 to walk in the Park!

The mission of The Central Park Conservancy is to restore, manage and enhance Central Park in partnership with the public. A private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1980 by a dedicated group of civic-minded and philanthropic leaders, the Conservancy provides 85% of the Central Park's $46 million park-wide budget and is responsible for all basic care of the Park.

Walk in the Park participants

Hannah Parker and Terri Coppersmith of The Central Park Conservancy

Maggie Norris

Madison Avenue BID President Matthew Bauer
with Fogal girls

Amy Freeze

Brittany Sellers

Walk in the Park participants with Amy Freeze of ABC News

Martha Stewart and NBC’s Willie Geist hosted Martha’s inaugural American Made awards ceremony on October 16th in Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall. The star-studded evening included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Calvin Klein, Millard “Mickey” Drexler, Thom Browne, Colin Cowie, and the White House’s Small Business Administration. The event saluted and highlighted 11 up-and-coming entrepreneurs who have shown innovation and creativity in their respective fields. Brian Howell of The Bee Man Candle Company won the Audience-Choice Award, receiving $10,000 to further his business as well as a feature in the December issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Guests enjoyed American-Made cocktails and artisanal foods from celebrated purveyors including Momofuku Milk Bar, Russ & Daughters, Murray’s Cheese and Bouchon Bakery. Throughout the evening, guests shopped a curated selection of handcrafted goods from around the country, including products made from the American Made honorees.

/Willie Geist and Martha Stewart

Pilar Guzman, Editor in Chief of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia gives opening remarks at Martha Stewart's American Made

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, speaks about the importance of small businesses

Karen Mills, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administratin and Willie Geist

Muffin Dowdle, Thomas Joseph, and Sarah Carey

C. Devone

Americans for the Arts, the leading organization for advancing the arts and arts education in the US, celebrated the 46th annual National Arts Awards a week ago this past Monday, October 15, at Cipriani 42nd Street. They raised more than $800,000in support of the arts and arts education.The black-tie affair was chaired by Maria Bell with co-chairs Jody Allen, Sarah Arison, Edythe and Eli Broad, The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Isabella and Theodor Dalenson, and Julie and Edward J. Minskoff.

The cocktail hour featuring artwork by visual artist Julie Mehretu. Artists Committee member and Vanity Fair Photographer at Large, Todd Eberle was taking one-of-a-kind Polaroid portraits of special guests with proceeds benefiting Americans for the Arts. Dinner featured a 3-course meal followed by presentations of the awards, video tributes to the honorees, and musical performances by YoungArts. Arranged by the evening’s Musical Director, YoungArts alumna Kate Davis, guests enjoyed a compilation of music from Broadway as well as original compositions by Duke Ellington and singer/songwriter honoree Josh Groban including his 2007 hit, “February Song.”

Artist Richard Serra presented the Eli and Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts to Allen, followed by a presentation of the Corporate Citizenship in the Arts Award to AXA Art Insurance Corporation by Miami collector Martin Z. Margulies. Actress Bebe Neuwirth paid tribute to Brian Stokes Mitchell as recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to the Arts Award while. Renée Fleming honored Josh Groban with the Bell Family Foundation Young Artist Award. Lin Arison received the Arts Education Award from choreographer and dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. Agnes Gund presented James Rosenquist with the Isabella and Theodor Dalenson Lifetime Achievement Award.

The goodie bags, one of the better ones of the season, came complete with individually boxed Sprinkles Cupcakes topped with the Americans for the Arts logo and illycaffè cans in honor of James Rosenquist, who designed the illy logo in 1996, and from YoungArts, a group of DVDs including HBO’s MasterClass featuring Renée Fleming. In addition, each guest received an ArtsVote2012 poster by Julie Mehretu which was produced in conjunction with Americans for the Arts Action Fund events at both the Republican and Democratic conventions.